Corruption eats away at fabric of Ukrainian society – U.S. diplomat

If Ukraine successfully wages a campaign to defeat corruption, it will disprove Russian propaganda depicting a failed Ukraine.

REUTERS

Speaking at the Ukrainian Diplomatic Academy on Wednesday, Deputy U.S. Secretary of State John Sullivan encouraged Ukrainians to push back against a corrupt and authoritarian past as "corruption eats away at the fabric of Ukrainian society in several ways".

He said it "deters foreign investment and drags down GDP, discourages economic initiative and entrepreneurship, robs the state of tax funds paid by hardworking Ukrainians to line the pockets of the powerful, breeds poverty, and crushes the hopes of those who play by the rules", according to a report by the U.S. Department of State press service.

"Do not accept business as usual. Because you deserve better," the official said.

"Ukraine’s fight against corruption is no less essential than its fight against Russian aggression. These two struggles are two sides of the same coin. Prevailing in both is a matter of national security. It is absolutely critical for Ukraine to press forward with deep, comprehensive, and timely reform," John Sullivan believes.

"Ukraine’s success in strengthening the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office could not be more important. These independent, anti-corruption institutions are instrumental to defeat graft, and they need to be well-resourced and protected to do so. Ukraine also needs a genuinely independent Anti-Corruption Court – one that is fully compliant with Venice Commission recommendations," said John Sullivan.

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